Aid - Case study 18

What do you need to know:What is aid?Why is the aid needed and the nature of the aid?Which countries were involved?How effective was the aid?Something else to look at - http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

Types of aid

There are many different types of aid:Emergency aid/short-term: this is given during times of extreme stress - this could be a famine or droughtLong-term/development aid: this given to a country to help the country develop - this could involve money for schools, hospitals and roads. Often linked to sustainable developmentMultilateral aid - given through international organisations such as the World Bank rather than by one specific country.

Conditional or tied aid - when one country donates money or resources to another (bilateral aid) but with conditions attached. These conditions will often be in the MEDC's favour, eg the controversial Pergau Dam project in Malaysia, where Britain used aid to secure trade deals with Malaysia.

Charitable aid - funded by donations from the public through organisations such as OXFAM.

An interesting idea?

Case study - Aid to Mali and Niger

Why was the aid needed?

Mali and Niger are two very poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa. They have suffered from drought which has led to significant and widespread famine. Life expectancy is low and infant mortality is very high. Women are repressed and this helps to perpetuate the problems.

Who was involved?

Emergency aid: this came from Oxfam, UNICEF, The United Nations and various governments. The UK government gave £3 million to helpDevelopment aid: Mainly from NGOs such as Oxfam

The nature of the aid

Emergency aid:Food aid for 600,000 for one monthWater purification tabletsTherapeutic food for 17,000 severely malnourished children245 cereal banks opened - give families cereals to help them surviveDevelopment aid:300 women's groups to promote women's education and rightsDevelopment of schoolsTraining new teachersImproving farmers skillsFree school places for girlsGoat aid - giving people goats so they get milk, meat and use the dung for firewood

Map of Mali and Niger

Was the aid a success?

Yes and noFor children: the life expectancy of children increased and infant mortality started to decrease. Children had more food and malnourishment started to decrease. This meant that they could go to school and develop new skills. New schools meant the children learnt new skills and a result the country benefits. The children can get jobs and therefore are less dependent on the government for support in later life and can earn ta receipts for the government. Girls can go to school and develop new skills and thus ended the circle of poverty.For pastoral farmers: they got new tools and learnt new techniques to help them farm in sub-Saharan Africa. This helped their quality of life and standard of living as they could earn more money. For women: women are not trapped at home and so can learn new skills to help them get jobs. With more children surviving they are less likely to have more children so they can focus on their aspirations.